Episode 1 of The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2 commences with Belly reflecting on the moment she and Conrad became a couple. Her mind wanders back to the trepidation she felt over how Jeremiah would react to the news of her newfound relationship with his brother. Conrad vows to address the matter with his sibling, and the new lovers sneak inside the house, where Susannah greets them with joy.
Belly ventures to Jeremiah's room, determined to have a heart-to-heart with him. She confesses that she kissed his brother, and Jeremiah's distress is palpable as he grapples with the revelation. Belly is devastated by his response and shares her hurt with Conrad. He assures her that all will be well, yet he cannot help but notice how deeply Jeremiah's reaction has affected her. As a gesture of his affection, Conrad presents Belly with an infinity necklace, explaining that it was always meant for her. She is deeply moved by this simple yet profound token.
Later, Belly encounters Susannah, and for the first time since disclosing her cancer diagnosis, they speak one-on-one. Susannah entrusts Belly with the Beach House, naming her as the only person she trusts to take care of it in her absence. Belly begs Susannah to stay and guide her through life's journey.
In her memories, Belly revisits the moment when Conrad called her for the first time, three weeks after her return from the Beach house. Their conversation flows effortlessly as friends, and they exchange stories about Conrad's college life. Steven is startled to learn of their correspondence, but Belly dismisses his concerns, allowing their dialogue to continue uninterrupted. During their lengthy chat, Conrad confides that his father cheated on Susannah, recalling the heartache in his mother's eyes and the burden of keeping this secret from her. He admits that he is accustomed to keeping things bottled up, preferring to face the consequences later rather than immediately.
As the nights pass, Belly and Conrad reconnect over the phone. She shares that her parents' relationship lacks passion, adding that Laurel would be indifferent if her father cheated. Belly expresses her desire for a spark in her own partnership. She inquiries about Jeremiah, noting that he has not responded to her texts since summer. To ease the tension, Belly wishes she could be with Conrad in person, longing for the warmth of his presence.
Conrad yearned to be by her side, professing his desire to be with someone who sparked an electric connection within him. Days before the spooky festivities of Halloween, Conrad unexpectedly appeared at Belly's doorstep, eager to talk about Jeremiah. She discovered that Jeremiah had moved past the incident of her kiss with Conrad while they were together. Conrad confessed how much he had missed Belly, and their lips met in a tender kiss.
Belly awoke in class, her dream still vivid, picturing herself as Conrad's girlfriend at the Cousins beach, with Susannah and Jeremiah praising their perfect union. However, reality was starkly different, as Susannah had passed away mere months after that summer. A year of isolation had enveloped Belly, distancing her from her peers. Taylor invited her to join the volleyball camp, but Belly remained uninterested. Steven, poised for graduation, boasted of his acceptance into Princeton.
Summoned for a grade discussion, Mrs. Holzman gravely informed Belly that her academic performance was dire. The counselor warned her that rejoining the volleyball team was her only hope of securing a spot in a decent college, let alone the Ivy League or state universities. Inspired, Belly resolved to reframe her perspective on Susannah's passing and set herself on a new path.
The next day, a gift basket arrived at the Conklin house, a graduation present for Steven. He claimed it was from Susannah, and Laurel was unsurprised, knowing her friend had planned such gestures before her untimely death. The family gathered for Steven's graduation, where he stood as the valedictorian. His speech inspired Belly to seize the present and live her life on her own terms. She informed Taylor of her intention to join the volleyball camp and attend the senior year graduation party later that evening.
Over lunch, Belly and Laurel revealed to the family that Laurel would not promote her novel. As the kids excused themselves, John and Laurel discussed the promotion of Laurel's book about Susannah. Laurel confessed her reluctance to exploit her friend's tragedy for publicity. However, John insisted that Susannah would want her story to be heard, urging Laurel to promote it.
Taylor assisted Belly in preparing for the evening's festivities, expressing her joy in seeing Belly regain her former spirit. Belly's closet reminded her of Conrad when she spotted his T-shirt. Taylor encouraged Belly to move forward, and the trio headed to the party.
At the party, Belly was startled to encounter Taylor's boyfriend, who seemed significantly older than they were. The volleyball girls enthusiastically discussed the possibility of Belly's return to the team, and Belly revealed that she had yet to speak with the coach. Their enthusiasm was palpable as Taylor nudged Belly to flirt with the boys from her class.
After a lengthy conversation with Cory, Belly recounted the encounter to Taylor and Steven. Taylor boasted that her boyfriend, Milo, was her soulmate, while Steven watched her with a hint of jealousy. Desperate to make an impression, Steven attempted a crowd surf, but to his dismay, no one caught him. He crashed into Belly, who stormed off in a huff. Outside, Belly sought solace with Cory, discussing the Venus star and sharing that she spends her summers at the beach house, uncertain if she'd visit this year. Cory invited her and her friends to a party at his abode, but when Belly leaned in for a kiss, he pulled away. Embarrassed, Belly retreated inside, where Steven carelessly spilled beer on her.
Angered, Belly declared her intention to leave, but Steven pleaded with her to stay, reminding her that she was their designated driver. A heated argument erupted between the siblings, and Belly mocked Steven for forgetting Susannah so easily. Steven retorted, blaming Belly for ruining his friendship with the Fisher brothers. Belly confessed that she had been in love with Conrad, and the admission left her devastated. She fled, but Taylor chased after her, urging her to deal with her feelings alone.
On the drive home, Belly wept, her sorrow finally finding release. At home, Laurel discussed Belly's academics, but Belly retorted, blaming Susannah's death for her struggles. Laurel insisted that Belly must take responsibility for her actions, but Belly retorted, accusing her mother of abandoning her to be with the Fisher boys.
As Belly retreated to her room, she pondered the loss of the beach house and the Fisher family, all tied to Susannah's passing. She reached out to Jeremiah, who revealed that Conrad had been ignoring his texts. The episode culminated with Belly asking to join Jeremiah in searching for Conrad.
